A common approach to income measurement

CHIS provides the first sector-wide, standardised framework for assessing cocoa-farming household income. Co-developed with technical partners including the KIT Institute, the methodology offers a reliable way to compare incomes against recognised living-income benchmarks. It captures key dimensions such as:

Cocoa and non-cocoa income sources
Production costs, yields and price variations
Household size and expenditure
Regional differences in productivity and market access

By harmonising data collection and analysis, CHIS helps the sector identify where support is most needed and how interventions can be scaled more effectively.

Cocoa household income study methodology

A sector-wide approach to assessing the living income status of households in the cocoa sector.

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Built for consistency and comparability

CHIS strengthens the credibility and alignment of income data through:

Consistency – Common definitions and indicators across cocoa origins
Transparency – Publicly available methodology and survey tools
Alignment – Compatibility with national statistics and global reporting frameworks
Scalability – Designed for replication across multiple countries and value chains

"A consistent approach to income data is essential for credible impact. With CHIS, WCF is helping the cocoa sector move from assumptions to evidence-based action."

Chris Vincent

President, World Cocoa Foundation

Data that drives impact

CHIS is already informing policy, investment and sustainability strategies across the cocoa sector. Data generated through the methodology supports:

National and international policy design
Corporate sustainability reporting and due-diligence processes

Initiatives focused on income diversification and farmer resilience

Turning insight into change

WCF is expanding the use of CHIS across producing countries and collaborating with partners to align with international standards. By turning robust data into actionable insights, CHIS helps ensure that sustainability commitments translate into meaningful improvements for cocoa-farming families.